Council builds for future with £18m asset sale

Published: 9th Jul 2012

Please note this is an archived Press Release

A FORMER mortuary, reading room and micro-cafe are among several properties going up for sale this week - as a council aims to raise millions of pounds by disposing of land and buildings it no longer needs.

Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council has embarked on a five-year programme of selling off surplus assets in a bid to bring in more than £18m and dramatically reduce its running costs.

And the latest sites to be offered to the market for sale or lease have today been confirmed.

They are:

Skelton Micro-cafe, on Skelton High Street, which is suitable for various uses and located in a residential and retail area;

The Settlement and the former Methodist Church and Hall - a striking building at the heart of the regeneration of South Bank;

Saltburn Mortuary, which could be converted to a beach chalet or other use;

Normanby Reading Room, on Normanby High Street, which is suitable for retail, office, studio or community use;

Land at Brotton High Street, which would be suitable for various uses, subject to planning consent.

First floor space totalling 606 sq ft in the Saltburn Foreshore Building is also available to let.

The 19th century, grade II-listed mortuary on Saltburn Foreshore is among the most unusual properties going to the market. It was built as a mortuary in 1881, but stopped being used for that purpose in the 1960s and its most recent operation was a store.

The sale or lease of all these sites would provide a further boost for the Council in difficult economic times.

The capital receipts generated will be used to improve services and help the authority in its efforts to make £34m of savings over the next few years.

The moves will also reduce the Council's carbon footprint as it strives to meet challenging targets of cutting CO2 emissions by 40 per cent by 2014.

There is also potential for community groups to take on the lease or management of surplus council properties, under a 'community asset transfer' policy.

Councillor Norman Pickthall, Cabinet Member for Corporate Resources, said: "In the present economic climate, it makes good sense for the Council to operate its services from fewer buildings or share accommodation with its partners.

"This on-going programme of disposing of assets will generate funds and reduce our running costs during times of unprecedented economic turbulence.

"As a result, we are now seeking people who can reinvigorate these buildings and put them to good use to help regenerate the area."

Anyone wanting further information about the land and property that is coming to the market, and the Councils community asset transfer policy, should contact its Asset Management Service on 01642 444392 or e-mail helen.stubbs@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk